Odisha Rajya Sabha Polls 2026: Five Candidates Vie for Four Seats Amid Tight Security
Voting for four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha is underway today at the Assembly premises, where five candidates are in the fray.
The BJP has fielded Sujeet Kumar and Manmohan Samal, while Dilip Ray is contesting as an independent backed by the party.
The BJD has nominated Santrupt Misra, and the opposition alliance of BJD, Congress, and CPI(M) has put forward Dr Datteswar Hota.
Polling is being conducted in Room 54 of the Assembly from 9 am to 4 pm, with counting scheduled at 5 pm.
The four seats are being vacated by Sujeet Kumar, Mamata Mohanta, Mujibulla Khan (Muna), and Niranjan Bishi, whose terms end on April 2.
The BJP commands 79 MLAs along with support from three independents, giving it 82 votes. The BJD holds 48 MLAs, Congress has 14, and CPI(M) has one.
Each candidate requires 30 first‑preference votes to secure a seat.
Security has been tightened at the Assembly, with MLAs required to carry identity cards and authorised agents appointed by all parties.
The contest is expected to be closely watched, as numerical strength favours the BJP, but alliances and cross‑voting could play a decisive role in the final outcome.
